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Attorney for suspected shooter: He was home playing video games

By Lisa Redmond, lredmond@lowellsun.com

Updated:
11/08/2012 12:06:17 AM EST

LAWRENCE -- The defense attorney for an 18-year-old Lawrence man charged with fatally shooting a Lowell teen outside a party in Lawrence Sunday claims his client has an alibi for the murder and couldn't be the alleged shooter.

With a motion hearing to dismiss the charges scheduled for today in Lawrence District Court, defense attorney Raymond Buso, representing 18-year-old Ismael Calixto, said during his client's arraignment Tuesday that Calixto denies being the shooter because he was home playing video games, the Eagle-Tribune reports.

Richard Bonilla, 18, of Lowell, was shot outside a Broadway Street home early Sunday morning after an argument erupted when some females were denied access to a party in the home, police said. A state medical examiner has indicated the Bonilla died from a gunshot wound to the head.

In court Tuesday, Calixto pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and discharging a weapon within 500 feet of a dwelling. At his arraignment, Calixto was held without bail pending a motion hearing today.

Police allege that at 1 a.m. Sunday, Bonilla was shot in the head after an argument at an 11 Broadway Ave. party. During the fight, shots rang out and Bonilla was hit, police said. He was flown via medical helicopter to a Boston hospital, but succumbed to his injuries Sunday afternoon.

Police allege that several witnesses identified Calixto as the shooter by the baseball hat he wore with the word "Magic" on it and by the Timberland boots he was wearing.

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Police seized a hat and boots from Calixto's home, the newspaper reports.

Buso said his client, who is under house arrest, was home playing a game on his Playstation, which records the time and date and the player at the time of the shooting, the newspaper reports.

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